Self-aligning trailer
A trailer hitch assembly and method characterized by having a hitch arm pivotally attached to a trailer such that when the hitch arm is placed in an unlocked position the hitch arm can pivot and when the hitch arm is placed in a locked position it is prevented from rotating.
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This disclosure pertains to trailer hitches and more specifically to the trailer assembly portion of trailer hitches. The disclosure has particular applicability to fifth wheel trailer hitch systems.
BACKGROUNDFifth wheel trailer hitch systems have long been used to connect towing trucks, tractor units or dollies to trailer portions of vehicle-trailer combinations. Commonly a fifth wheel trailer hitch system consists of a fifth wheel locking assembly, which is mounted on the vehicle, and a fifth wheel trailer pin assembly, which is mounted on the trailer.
Conventional fifth wheel trailer pin assemblies comprise a kingpin and skid plate, which are attached to the trailer. When the kingpin enters a jaw slot in the fifth wheel locking assembly the locking assembly firmly closes on the kingpin, thus mating the trailer pin assembly and the locking assembly into the complete fifth wheel trailer hitch system.
Vehicle-trailer combinations are routinely required to backup to a stationary platform to allow cargo to be loaded, unloaded or connected. As used herein, the term “stationary platform” means a platform or trailer or load that is fixed or not easily moveable relative to the vehicle-trailer combination and, hence, is stationary during the positioning of the vehicle-trailer combinations for loading, unloading or connection. Stationary platforms include, for example, loading docks, fixed loads, towers, freight elevators and similar.
Generally, it is desirable for the trailer to be aligned with the stationary platform to facilitate loading, unloading or connection. In some operations it is more critical that the alignment be precise, such as when remote loading or unloading mechanisms are employed. In either circumstance, achieving alignment with the stationary platform can be difficult with traditional fifth wheel trailer hitch systems and can require a high level of skill from the driver and/or require the driver to pull forward and reposition the trailer to the stationary platform multiple times. Accordingly, methods and apparatuses for facilitating the trailer alignment with a stationary platform are desirable.
In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the invention. Where components of relatively well-known designs are employed, their structure and operation will not be described in detail.
Turning now to
With reference to
Kingpin plate 30 can incorporate a rotation limiter, which is configured in
At or near second end 34 of kingpin plate 30 is hitch attachment element, shown as kingpin 40, which is configured to mate with fifth wheel lock assembly 14 and be locked in place by kingpin lock 18. Kingpin 40 is attached to kingpin plate 30 so as to be remote from first end 32. Generally, kingpin 40 will be at or near second end 34; that is, generally, kingpin 40 will be located at least midway between first end 32 and second end 34, and, typically, closer to second end 34. Kingpin 40 can be located at or adjacent to second end 34. The structure of kingpin 40 and fifth wheel lock assembly 14 can be in accordance with known fifth wheel trailer hitch systems. Typically, kingpin 40 will be pivotally locked in a mating relation with fifth wheel lock assembly 14 such that the kingpin can rotate about a vertical axis 42. Kingpin 40 can be held in place by a skid plate 44 or by bolts (not shown). Skid plate 44 also can aid the introduction of kingpin 40 into fifth wheel lock assembly 14.
Also, at or near second end 34 is alignment lock 46. As shown, the alignment lock 46 can comprise an alignment pin 48, a first mating hole 50 in the mounting deck 24 and a second mating hole 52 in the kingpin plate 30 wherein the alignment pin 48 is received in first mating hole 50 and second mating hole 52. When so received, alignment pin 48 prevents kingpin plate 30 from pivoting and, hence, locks in the alignment of kingpin plate 30. Typically, kingpin plate 30 will be locked in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the trailer as further described below with reference to
Turning now to
Turning now to
After trailer 20 has been aligned with stationary platform 84, trailer 20 is ready for loading or unloading. Once loaded or unloaded, the driver can move vehicle-trailer combination 10 forward thereby aligning kingpin plate 30 with longitudinal axis 66 of trailer 20. Next, kingpin plate 30 can be placed in the locked position and the vehicle-trailer combination is ready to be driven to another location.
Turning now to
In accordance with the above description several embodiments will now be described. In one embodiment a trailer hitch assembly comprises a hitch arm and a hitch attachment element. The hitch arm having a first end and a second end. The hitch arm is pivotally attached to a trailer at the first end. The hitch attachment element is attached to the hitch arm at or near the second end. The hitch attachment element can be configured to pivotally mate with a locking assembly on a vehicle. Further, the trailer hitch can have an alignment lock having a locked position in which the hitch arm is prevented from pivoting at the first end, and an unlocked position in which the hitch arm is free to pivot at the first end.
In another embodiment there is provided a trailer hitch assembly. The trailer hitch assembly comprises a kingpin plate having a first end and a second end. The kingpin plate is pivotally attached to a trailer at the first end. The trailer hitch further comprises a kingpin attached to the kingpin plate at or near the second end. The trailer hitch assembly can further comprise an alignment lock having a locked position in which the kingpin plate is prevented from pivoting and an unlocked position in which the kingpin plate is free to pivot.
In a further embodiment, the trailer can have a longitudinal axis and a mounting deck to which the king pin plate is pivotally attached. Additionally, the alignment lock can comprise an alignment pin, a first mating hole in the mounting deck and a second mating hole in the kingpin plate such that when the kingpin plate is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the trailer the first mating hole and the second mating hole align so that the alignment pin can be inserted, thus placing the alignment lock in the locked position. Also, the kingpin can be configured to pivotally mate with a fifth wheel locking assembly.
In another embodiment the trailer hitch assembly further comprising a rotation limiter configured to limit the pivoting of the kingpin plate. For example, the trailer can include a mounting deck having an inside wall defining an orifice in the mounting deck, and the kingpin plate can include a raised section fitting in the orifice such that the pivoting of the kingpin plate is limited by the interaction of the raised section and the inside wall. The rotation limiter can limit the maximum pivot to be from about 10 degrees to about 30 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the trailer or to be from 15 degrees to 25 degrees from the longitudinal axis.
In a further embodiment there is provided a hauling assembly including a trailer and vehicle. The trailer has a mounting deck to which a kingpin plate is pivotally attached. The kingpin plate has a first end and a second end. The kingpin plate is pivotally attached to the mounting deck at the first end. A kingpin is attached to the kingpin plate at or near the second end. The vehicle has a fifth wheel locking assembly for pivotally receiving the kingpin.
In yet another embodiment there is provided a method of aligning a trailer with a stationary platform wherein the trailer is connected to a vehicle. The method comprises the steps of:
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- (a) contacting a portion of the rear-end of a trailer with the stationary platform wherein the trailer has a pivotally attached hitch arm in a locked position such that it does not pivot relative to the trailer, and has a hitch attachment element attached to the plate, which is pivotally connected to a fifth wheel locking assembly on the vehicle to thus connect the trailer and vehicle;
- (b) placing the hitch arm in an unlocked position such that the hitch arm can pivot relative to the trailer; and
- (c) backing the vehicle towards the stationary platform such that the hitch arm pivots thus causing the rear of the trailer to align with the stationary platform.
The method can further comprise the steps of:
-
- (d) after the trailer has been aligned with the stationary platform, aligning the hitch arm with a longitudinal axis of the trailer; and
- (e) placing the hitch arm in the locked position.
Additionally, the method can further comprise restricting the amount of pivot for the hitch arm when the hitch arm is in the unlocked position. The amount of pivot can be restricted so that the maximum pivot of the hitch arm can be from about 10 degrees to about 30 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the trailer. Alternatively, the amount of pivot can be restricted so that the maximum pivot of the hitch arm can be from 15 degrees to 25 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the trailer.
In yet a further embodiment there is provided a method of aligning a trailer with a stationary platform wherein the trailer has a longitudinal axis and is connected to a vehicle, the method comprising:
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- (a) contacting a portion of the rear-end of a trailer with the stationary platform wherein the trailer has a pivotally attached kingpin plate in a locked position such that it does not pivot relative to the trailer, and has a kingpin attached to the plate, which is pivotally connected to a fifth wheel locking assembly on the vehicle to thus connect the trailer and the vehicle;
- (b) placing the kingpin plate in an unlocked position such that the kingpin plate can pivot relative to the trailer;
- (c) backing the vehicle towards the stationary platform such that the kingpin plate pivots thus causing the rear of the trailer to align with the stationary platform;
- (d) restricting the amount of pivot for the kingpin plate when the kingpin plate is in the unlocked position so that the kingpin plate has a maximum pivot from 15 degrees to 25 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the trailer;
- (e) after the trailer has been aligned with the stationary platform, aligning the kingpin plate with a longitudinal axis of the trailer; and
- (f) placing the kingpin plate in the locked position.
Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, the foregoing description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications as well as alternative applications will be suggested to persons skilled in the art by the foregoing specification and illustrations. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications, applications or embodiments as followed in the true scope of this invention.
Claims
1. A trailer hitch assembly comprising:
- a kingpin plate having a first end and a second end, wherein said kingpin plate is pivotally attached to a trailer at said first end;
- a rotation limiter configured to limit pivoting of the kingpin plate so as to define a maximum pivot for the kingpin plate relative to the trailer,
- a kingpin attached to said kingpin plate at or near said second end; and
- an alignment lock having a locked position in which said kingpin plate is prevented from pivoting at said first end and an unlocked position in which said kingpin plate is free to pivot at said first end.
2. The trailer hitch assembly of claim 1 wherein said kingpin is configured to pivotally mate with a locking assembly on a vehicle.
3. The trailer hitch assembly of claim 1 wherein said trailer has a longitudinal axis and a mounting deck to which said kingpin plate is pivotally attached, and wherein said alignment lock comprises an alignment pin, a first mating hole in said mounting deck and a second mating hole in said kingpin plate such that when said kingpin plate is aligned along said longitudinal axis of said trailer, said first mating hole and said second mating hole align so that said alignment pin can be inserted thus placing said alignment lock in said locked position.
4. The trailer hitch assembly of claim 1 wherein said kingpin is configured to pivotally mate with a fifth wheel locking assembly.
5. The trailer hitch assembly of claim 1 wherein said trailer includes a mounting deck having an inside wall defining an orifice in said mounting deck and said kingpin plate includes a raised section fitting in said orifice, wherein said inside wall and said raised section interact to form said rotation limiter such that the pivoting of said kingpin plate is limited by the interaction of said raised section and said inside wall.
6. The trailer hitch assembly of claim 5 wherein said trailer has a longitudinal axis and the maximum pivot of said kingpin plate is from 10 degrees to 30 degrees from said longitudinal axis of said trailer.
7. The trailer hitch assembly of claim 6 wherein the maximum pivot of said kingpin plate is from 15 degrees to 25 degrees from said longitudinal axis of the trailer.
8. The trailer hitch assembly of claim 7 wherein said kingpin is configured to pivotally mate with a fifth wheel.
9. A method of aligning a trailer with a stationary platform wherein the trailer has a front and a rear and is connected to a vehicle at said front, the method comprising:
- (a) contacting a portion of said rear of said trailer with said stationary platform wherein said trailer has a pivotally attached hitch arm in a locked position such that it does not pivot relative to the trailer, and has a hitch attachment element attached to said hitch arm, which is pivotally connected to a locking assembly on said vehicle to thus connect said trailer and said vehicle;
- (b) placing said hitch arm in an unlocked position such that said hitch arm can pivot relative to the trailer; and
- (c) backing said vehicle towards said stationary platform such that said hitch arm pivots thus causing said rear of said trailer to align with said stationary platform.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
- (d) after said trailer has been aligned with said stationary platform, aligning said hitch arm with a longitudinal axis of said trailer; and
- (e) placing said hitch arm in said locked position.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein, when in said unlocked position, said hitch arm pivots relative to the trailer by an amount of pivot and further comprising restricting the amount of pivot for said hitch arm when said hitch arm is in said unlocked position.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein said trailer has a longitudinal axis and the amount of pivot is restricted to provide for a maximum pivot of said hitch arm from 10 degrees to 30 degrees from said longitudinal axis of said trailer.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the amount of pivot is restricted so that the maximum pivot of said hitch arm is from 15 degrees to 25 degrees from said longitudinal axis of the trailer.
14. A method of aligning a trailer with a stationary platform wherein said trailer has a front, a rear and a longitudinal axis and is connected to a vehicle at said front, the method comprising:
- (a) contacting a portion of said rear of said trailer with said stationary platform wherein said trailer has a pivotally attached kingpin plate in a locked position such that it does not pivot relative to the trailer, and has a kingpin attached to said plate, which is pivotally connected to a fifth wheel locking assembly on said vehicle to thus connect said trailer and said vehicle;
- (b) placing said kingpin plate in an unlocked position such that said kingpin plate can pivot relative to the trailer by an amount of pivot;
- (c) backing said vehicle toward said stationary platform such that said kingpin plate pivots thus causing said rear of said trailer to align with said stationary platform;
- (d) restricting the amount of pivot for said kingpin plate when said kingpin plate is in said unlocked position so that said kingpin plate has a maximum pivot from 15 degrees to 25 degrees from said longitudinal axis of said trailer;
- (e) after said trailer has been aligned with said stationary platform, aligning said kingpin plate with a longitudinal axis of said trailer; and
- (f) placing said kingpin plate in said locked position.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Dec 4, 2013
Date of Patent: Sep 5, 2017
Patent Publication Number: 20160280291
Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. (Houston, TX)
Inventor: Calvin L. Stegemoeller (Duncan, OK)
Primary Examiner: Joseph Rocca
Assistant Examiner: Michael Stabley
Application Number: 15/033,861
International Classification: B62D 53/08 (20060101); B60D 1/01 (20060101); B60D 1/14 (20060101); B60D 1/24 (20060101);